A message in a bottle hauled from the depths by a fishing boat has set a new world record for the length of time spent at sea, beating the previous record by more than five years.

The bottle, released in 1914 as part of a scientific experiment, turned up nearly 98 years later in a net during a fishing mission east of Shetland. Incredibly, it was discovered by the same Lerwick vessel which found the previous world record holder.

Fisherman Andrew Leaper spoke of his pride after spotting the bottle in his catch on April 12 this year. The find has now been confirmed by Guinness World Records.